Detox Green Smoothie

This detox green smoothie has more than a day’s worth of greens, so no matter what you eat later, you’ve gotten a great healthy start. It’s cleansing for your liver and blood, whether you’re eating too much sugar, drinking too much or just want to give your system a little break. Plus, it tastes great and takes less than 5 minutes to make!

We’re deep into it, guys – the holidays. While I’m all about the festive cheer, I’m also knee deep in parties filled with mulled wine, spiced cider and cookies I just have to try. Late nights leave me little time for cooking, so I often end up grabbing food out, which inevitably leaves me feeling less than amazing.

I love this smoothie because, while no one could (or should) do a real detox right now (I mean, come on, can you imagine Aunt Suzy’s face when you say you don’t even want to try her famous gingerbread loaf?), this is like a 5-minute detox in a glass. It’s packed to the brim with everything that’s amazing for you. During the holidays, the summer, or any time I find myself eating less than ideally, I try to make it a point to have a green smoothie every morning. That way, I’ve had almost a day’s worth of nutrients by 10 am. It’s enough to keep my digestion going strong, and sweep away a bit of the chocolate and cheese I’m consuming nightly. If I start with a green smoothie, I find myself with more energy, better skin and just generally feeling less stale and gross (I call this the third-day-of-greasy-food feeling, where your body is veritably crying out for greens).

Cilantro is one of my favorite detoxifying ingredients – it’s what’s called a chelator, which means it cleans your blood of heavy metals and other toxins (it’s one of the few foods on the planet to boast this ability). If you’re one of those people who think cilantro tastes like soap, swap in basil – it’ll taste just as amazing, and you’ll be getting polyphenols that are nearly as detoxifying.

Lemon is renowned for its liver cleansing abilities. It essentially sends a message to your liver to work harder, which allows your liver (your body’s natural detoxifier) to do its job quicker and more efficiently. Cayenne aids in this process while kicking up your metabolism (I see you, holiday party dress!). Pineapple is the only foods that contains an enzyme called bromelain, which is such a good digestive aid that it’s actually sold in supplement form. It’ll help clear out any of last night’s leftover pizza, while calming residual inflammation in your system.

I love to include coconut oil for a few reasons. First, anytime you eat greens (or any vegetable), you’d ideally eat it with fat, since most of the vitamins found in vegetables (unlike those found in fruit) are fat soluble. Coconut, unlike any other fat, actually helps burn fat in your body. It’s also antiviral and antibacterial, so it’ll help you fight off any bugs going around. Along with the copious amounts of fiber, the fat will also make sure the smoothie actually keeps you full.

This batch makes enough for two servings. It keeps in the fridge for up to 48 hours, so I’ll make a big batch and drink half, storing the other half in a tightly sealed Mason Jar for the next morning. In five minutes, I’ll have made two delicious, filling breakfasts that will kick off my day on a healthy note (no matter where it goes from there).

Detox Green Smoothie

Ingredients

2 packed cups of greens of choice (spinach, arugula and mixed greens all work great!)

1 packed cup cilantro (if you don’t like cilantro, you can sub basil)

1 cup frozen pineapple

Juice + zest of 1 lemon

1 tbsp coconut oil

1 cup filtered water

1/8 tsp cayenne

1/8 tsp salt

Instructions

Blend your greens of choice and cilantro with the water on high until liquidy. Add the rest of the ingredients and blend again until well combined. Serves 2. This will keep for up to 48 hours in a tightly sealed container in the fridge – I like to make two day’s worth at once, and store one Mason Jar to drink the next morning.

Did you make this recipe?

Psst! Want more detox deliciousness? Check out this Green Detox Soup, which is perfect when you want all the delicious, cleansing vegetables in a slightly warmer form.

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I’ll be honest, I was a little scared as this is my first detox smoothie ever! But it was really good. A little kick from the cayenne but as expected. I am a stay at home mom and my youngest is 4 months, so I’m constantly tired and in process of losing weight and trying to be a healthier me for my girls! Hoping this smoothie can be a healthy start for my day and maybe even help jump start my diet! Is it safe to drink this multiple times a week?